at home

Home Sweet Home

2008-01-27T08:18:00.000+11:00

Although I doubt we’ll stay put in the same place for long enough, the sense of belonging and meaningfulness of this home grabbed my attention in today’s Herald:

“Every time I pop round there (Her neighbours) I am transfixed by the two photos he has hanging in the frame by the front door. In the left-hand one, he and his young wife-in early 1970’s clothes-are going in through that door carrying a small baby. In the right-hand snapshot, my neighbour is coming out the same door with a young woman in the wedding dress on his arm. It is his daughter-the one who was the baby in the first photo”

Our neighbours are the same-A family home, rich with memories draws me in…I’d love knock on the door and walk through our childhood home in Wanganui. It’s amazing the few times we’ve driven past how small the street actually is, the walk to the shops seemed so much further as a child!

Homemade quilt

2007-12-15T09:42:00.000+11:00

Look what Miss E and I made…
Miss E choose the fabric and we had all the patches sewn in a day. Definitely an A’ for effort, both of us not exactly very good sewers! If you look closely you see some of the squares have pleats from our scrunch it a bit sewing technique

And… thanks to our lovely friend for helping it all come together with the middle and back. A fun production!

Sydney Storms...

2007-12-10T20:51:00.000+11:00

...the one last week messing with my computer?!

...Last nights-oh my goodness hailstones as big as cricket ball's and damaging winds; Trees down, power out and our car like many others hammered all over.

Now the powers back on, so too BP's computer...speak again soon

Under Construction

2007-12-01T20:26:00.000+11:00

It’s all happening at our place, BP currently up to demolishing before renovating our bedroom and ensuite. Here’s how it’s looking...
Miss E has a double bed in her room so we've moved in there, and her to J's room... where they talk and take far too long to go to sleep each night!

around home...

2007-11-16T23:29:00.001+11:00

Spent a large part of today shuffling around rooms. BP’s awesome completing the last of the kid’s room’s today-fresh paint, skirting, wardrobe and carpet-ours next!

Absolutely nothing on or scheduled tomorrow, I’m loving Saturdays like these, pottering around home, the kids playing, the days sunny and warm.

Put on a Happy Face

2007-11-15T20:45:00.000+11:00

At home as i walk and work I remind myself to SMILE at my children as they come and go. Sometimes life can get a bit full-on… the morning drill when one can’t find a sock, another reminds me I was supposed to bake a cake for school, someone knocks on the door, a glass of milk spills on the floor and my daughter comes out in a scrunched up looking uniform. It’s wonderful mid motion to be able to look over into one of their faces and SMILE. No matter how hectic things get a smile can quickly brighten the atmosphere and convey warmth. It’s nice when you don’t have enough arms or legs and there’s no time to stop, to have something so easy and ready to give!

Renovation Colours

2007-10-26T14:15:00.001+10:00

Renovating…Phew so many decisions and I’m not always good at decisions! BP’s action man wanting to get the bedrooms and bathrooms done pressing me daily for colours, tiles, carpets, taps, curtains vanities…arrggh I’ve got brain strain, not to mention that I’m colour blind!!!! I have a red/green deficiency as does my father and I’m pretty sure one of my sons…

In the dots below: Those with normal colour vision see a 6… I see nothing! Mum used to think I was being contrary when I was little and getting my colours all wrong.
So asking me for colours is: ??**~~*!!!!.... I can identify bright colours, but all the tones and hues-I just can’t see or distinguish!

Which is why we’re opting for a fairly neutral colour pallet throughout- we can brighten it up with colourful furnishings and fabrics
(Pallet or palate? My mum laughs at some of the ways i interpret and spell sayings and words!)

Anyone else unable to see the 6 too?

Update

2007-09-23T08:00:00.001+10:00

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I’m still alive! Dialing up today on BPs computer…mine still unpacked in a box. Can’t really be bothered with the computer when alls TOO slow. Should be properly jacked up sometime next week?

BP’s a legend! Guess what the settlement on our new house which was supposed to happen weeks ago…because of the vendors S-L-O-W, solicitor didn’t happen until last Friday-THE FRIDAY I was away in NZ, BP having shift house with the 4 kids, how awesome is he!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NZ was GREAT! Had to speak 3 times over the weekend, was just myself telling lots of stories and sharing from life over the last couple of years. Think I went alright for a beginner, so funny in the first 5 minutes talking felt really puffed…had forgotten to breathe!

Home of our own! Back into action…the kids are all camping in the sun room while we paint, carpet and put new wardrobes in theirs. Gross- pulled up the last of the carpet yesterday, the previous owners had a cat locked inside for 12 years-Blah-reeks.

Kids on the move! Our new street alive with kids everywhere…on bikes, scooters, skateboards... BP and I even went for a big bike ride on Friday when the kids were all at school-stopping of course for and cuppa and cake on the way home.

Tiara’s purring! BP took her to the vets for her last bit of help…a steroid injection in her mouth which should last 9months-1 year. Everyone now accepting that this is the last thing we can do for her, such a sweet cat.

Have had friends 2 kids here for the weekend, yet to feed them breakfast, better go….

Our cat dilemma

2007-08-23T14:18:00.000+10:00

What would you do???

As BP keeps saying she’s such a lovely cat and been so good for our family
I agree, Tiara our cat has definitely been the pick of the litter, the nicest-natured, smoochie, prettiest little thing…But as blood tests confirm now has an incurable virus, first evidenced to us by her painfully red mouthful of ulcers making it unbearable for her to eat.
Equaling a very sick,scrawny little pussy who currently needs fortnightly painkiller injections just to see her through
Equaling lots of dollars, not to mention the side effects of her being sick…
Equaling POO, WEE, and today VOMIT IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!! Tiara crying at our window in the middle of the night because we’ve locked her out (In order to avoid even more accidents!)

The rest of the family think I’m a hard-hearted woman to even suggest she need be put down, but…
My thoughts behind such a horrible reasoning:
-I’m the one cleaning up a majority of the messes-TOTALLY DISGUSTING, not to mention unhygienic with a house full of kids….
-The increasing cost to keep her alive
-Tiara herself living in excruciating pain!

And its NOT that I don’t think she’s the sweetest cat, and WILL cry if she dies...

Foot in the door

2007-08-03T17:43:00.001+10:00

A home of our own in Sydney...
the remainder of the home in need of the kind of attention he can easily give. Being a jack of all trades he’s itching to get into it.
We move in a month…exciting yet tinged with sadness at leaving the community we have spent the last 7 years in.
Feels like we’re moving town…a little bit country, horse paddocks 100m from our house, the kids will change schools, finding our way around and discovering a new area.
Relieved though to finally have entered the Sydney market.

More Mess...

2007-07-30T13:12:00.000+10:00

The continual mess my family creates is not just physically exhausting but sometimes mentally as well. The tidying up never seems end!!!!!!!!!

They need learn pull their weight, but try remind myself when chaos reigns…

Life is meant be enjoyed with others

What a waste to go through it worrying about the mess

People are more important than things

Fun and people are often messy.

I'd rather the fun and laughter of a home alive with people than a perfect house!

Messed up

2007-06-16T20:48:00.000+10:00

It’s been raining and pouring for days and days and by the looks days to come…which is a good thing considering the drought! Means though a lot of time with kids cooped up inside. In turn equaling MESS!-well even more than usual!!
My real life twirling, whirling tornados, rampaging through the house. I can’t keep up. But are cluing up to a few tricks…

One being, as I move from room to room taking something with me…, urrggh continual putting away, but seems work in reducing piece by piece the toys PAPER and clothes here there and EVERYWHERE!

Getting the kids working: “We’ll be ready to go to such and such’s place when you’ve finished cleaning your room, we can have afternoon tea when school-bags are hung up, lunch-boxes on the bench and socks (MAKE IT) to the laundry basket. You know- bribery!

MissE’s supposed to be going on a very much eagerly awaited school camp on Monday-not sure it will be still be a happening thing if the rain continues bucketing down?

A home is where...

2007-05-23T09:12:00.000+10:00

Kathy Peel:
"A home is where human beings develop. The choices we make about our home involve a lot more than the carpet colour, window treatment, and number of closets.
Home isn’t just a place to hang a hat: it’s a place to restore souls, find shelter from outside pressures, grow support for talents, and receive inspiration, comfort and aid. It’s a place where family members learn to love and be loved”

A whole lot of LOVE

2007-05-03T12:31:00.000+10:00

Speaking of ‘eclectic’(“Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles…”)

Have been meaning to copy Gillian’s ‘LOVE’ idea for ages…Made from odds and ends she had lying around the house “- electrical wire for the "L" strung with beads I whipped off a bracelet from the $2 shop and mounted on a canvas. The O is actually a coaster, the V I cut out of Zincalume and spray painted black and the E is fashioned out of Fimo and mounted on a canvas.”

Inspired

2007-05-02T09:34:00.000+10:00

Another of 'Karen Cheng's Snippets of Life' I could relate to:

Karen: “Our home doesn't boast of super trendy interiors, expensive furniture and the latest entertainment systems. It's got nice personal touches here and there, but most of it's quite modest and eclectic.

I'm not saying we're poor. I'm just not interested in creating a stylish designer house for my family and keeping up with the latest lifestyle magazines. All that lifestyle stuff just gets in the way of LIFE.

...my aunty… she lives in an old, teeny tiny house in a rougher part of town. Yet every time I step through her front door, I'm struck with the most amazing and astonishing sense of warmth, security, happiness and love. I can't put my finger on how she did it - but I'm inspired - I want my home to have that effect on people too”

Where love is...

2007-04-22T21:41:00.000+10:00

"Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start."
Mother Teresa

Got it wrapped

2007-03-22T14:21:00.001+11:00

Looking up at my calendar...in the last month and a half we’ve had invites to 15 parties…on top of everything else that’s been on with sports, church and school!

Gift shopping has thus been a pastime on my kid-less 6 hours each Tuesday

A few days ago I decided to get a little more organised in this department, grabbing an empty brown box and rummaging together odds and ends of gift paper/ bags and Levis paintings (Which make great wrapping paper) to fill it with…
Sitting here at the ready (To party!)…next to the box of homemade cards we made last year - which seriously needs replenishing.

You be the judge...

2007-02-17T08:29:00.000+11:00

In their blogs Gillian and her friend Claire both admit to loving hanging out the washing. Claire’s Nana once telling her the sign of ones housework skills is judged in the way they hang out the washing.

Ha-ha on that basis what does mine say about me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Washing –hanging- up- lovers are going to be horrified:… It’s up there isn’t it…that’s a start, at least the housework EVENTUALLY gets done
…flung and hung; other things to do…get it over and done with fast!
…Pegs working overtime; holding 1, 2 or sometimes even 3 items on its own …forgetting to buy more pegs indicative of…….???
…And while confessing, occasionally I forget altogether to bring the washing in,UNTIL it starts blowing off the line… inevitable really with so little pegs! I’m starting to get it.

BUT savior of saviors, when mum comes to stay…
One of the first things she rushes off to buy is: PEGS!!!
Mum; exceptional at washing and all things domestic

After this discourse though, think I might actually remember buy them myself!

School books covered:

2007-02-08T15:23:00.000+11:00

A few printed photos, magazines and the kids had fun cutting out pictures and designing covers for their school-books...BP finishing them off with contact, because i always get bubbles!

Contradictions

2007-01-31T17:41:00.000+11:00

Could relate to this when browsing through Karen Cheng’s site:

“I really love the idea of natural living. Growing my own veges and herbs. Cooking with natural and organic products. Recycling. Composting. Supporting local businesses and produce. Buying products that are made to last. However, sometimes it just isn't practical, so I swallow my guilt and happily live with the contradictions in my life that make me ME.
(For example - Give up my car for a bike?!? Bwahaha. Yeah right.)”

Me too:
-I religiously check the ingredients labels, endeavouring to buy whole, unadulterated food…yet will uncontrollably dig into a lolly (Candy) bowl fully loaded with colour, additives and preservatives whenever the opportunity presents itself!

-I don’t want to use plastic bags, but more often than not forget to take my environ-shopping bags to the super-market

-Loathe cleaning out the putrid smelling compost bucket

-Intend to present the kids nutritious snacks and meals, but sometimes best laid plans go astray!

BUT!
Console myself with…
“If you aim at nothing you will hit it” …and at least we have a target!

Half here, half there

2007-01-18T09:14:00.000+11:00

My oldest two and BP, are at kid’s summer camp run through church for 3 days…

So it’s just me and my little two at home-They’ve been JUST the bestest lil buddies playing together non stop, HAPPILY from dawn to dusk (theres normally a fight here and there with 4!) …so lovely and almost a holiday at home, reading half a book as they play on and on…

Also after wondering; where the heck are we going to put all the great toys that came home with us from NZ... snuck around the house (While the other two are at camp!), gathering outgrown toys/cot covers etc for the charity bin down the road
And Ahhhh gained back some space.
Now to sort…

Homemade, worn and worn monkey singlets

2007-01-08T07:12:00.000+11:00

For Christmas I made little 'Monkey Cousins Club' boxes for the kids..

Bought some monkey fabric and zig-zagged a square of it to a ready-made(!!) singlet for each child.

Since unwrapping them, the Monkey bunch has formed...
often having to whip singlets through the wash in time for the next club gathering, outing or play!

Leaving home, the cat and preschool

2006-12-06T13:46:00.000+11:00

Started packing…The kids have been counting down every Thursday; 10, 9, 8, 7…weeks, the day actually arriving tomorrow

Worked out today we’re away for 40 days when calculating how many tins of cat food I’ll need leave for our little neighbour who’s going to feed and cuddle Tiara
Got a few friends too who will be in and out of the house

And MORE cupcakes for a special preschool graduation we’re about to go off to soon...Christmas cupcakes THIS time!

Taking abit of the ‘work’ out of homework!

2006-11-01T11:39:00.000+11:00

Thanks to Kiddley where they said:

“…large amounts of precious homework time can be wasted or diverted into collecting together the right supplies to start work. Instead, have a medium sized plastic box with a lid (maybe even one on wheels to be rolled away under a table), or drawer set aside which is full of supplies reserved exclusively for homework time. You will want to include the basics such as lined paper, blank, scissors, pencils, pens, a ruler, sticky tape, graph paper, glue, erasers and a pencil sharpener….”

What a good tip
One of my school age kids is self motivated and completes homework on time…as for the other!!!!! Much grace required…
Assembling all the equipment a mission,
Finishing it all by Friday, a nightmare…FOR ME!

Problem now solved though with a homework tray…in which we’ve also added a timer to count down the required minutes need spent knuckling down!!!

THE place to be...

2006-10-27T15:11:00.000+10:00

I love the picture -often referred to by Dr Phil of home being “A soft place to fall”

In an interview with the Readers Digest he speaks of “your family being a soft place to fall for everyone in it-- that each child and the mother and father knows inside those four walls "I'm accepted. I'm loved. And I give that to everybody else."
Then asking if you do that on a day to day basis;” Do I make my children feel they're safe and secure and valued and welcomed?"

What an awesome goal… making home THE place to be!

I know I rave on them a lot, but that was the kind of home my parents created …at home and with family was always (and still is) a desired place.
Doesn’t mean we always floated around on clouds, and did have our misgivings but at the end of the day, we felt incredibly safe, secure, valued and welcome

Safe: Secure from danger, harm, or evil.
Secure: Assured and certain… not likely to fail or give way
Valued: Highly regarded; esteemed and prized as, a valued contributor
Welcome: Received with pleasure into one's company!

We carry atmosphere with and around us! Would you want to come home to you???
In your home, are others safe from harm, prized and embraced
In word and action; Valued and welcomed
In thought…esteemed and considered
…etc

What a TRULY noble endeavour I reckon, to work at creating a home that’s a welcome respite and soft place to fall for those under its roof.